Paper aeroplane games for kids

Safety first

Throw only when everyone is standing behind the same line, and never toward a face, an animal or a window. A plane has a pointed nose, so keep it away from eyes, and collect planes only when everyone has stopped. Stay well back from stairs, balcony and terrace edges and roads, and never launch from a height. A grown-up cuts or tears all card and paper strips. Check card, boxes and paper for sharp edges and staples first; the games use no staples. Keep tape, paper scraps and clips away from little mouths. If you use a box as a target, it stays open and empty, and a child is never closed inside a box. Supervise throughout. Age hints are only a guide.

1. The classic dart

Age hint: 5 and up, with help for the folds.

Bring: one sheet of plain printer paper, about the size of a school notebook page.

1. Lay the paper with the long edges at the sides. Fold it in half lengthwise, press the crease, then open it flat again.
2. Fold the two top corners in so they meet along the middle crease. You now have a pointed roof.
3. Fold each sloping edge in again so it lies along the middle crease.
4. Fold the whole plane in half along the first crease, with the folded flaps on the outside.
5. Fold one wing down so its top edge lines up with the bottom edge, then do the same on the other side. Open the wings slightly and your dart is ready.

Notice: Which part of the fold was the hardest to line up, and how did you fix it?

2. Hoop target

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: a plane from game 1, plus a strip of thin card about as long as your forearm and as wide as two fingers, cut by a grown-up.

1. A grown-up bends the strip into a ring and joins the ends with a little tape on the outside, then presses the tape flat.
2. Another player holds the hoop low, at about waist height, standing beside it rather than behind it, so their face is clear of the plane's path.
3. The thrower stands behind a line a few steps away and sends the plane gently toward the hoop.
4. Swap jobs after three tries.

Notice: What did you change between throws when the plane missed the hoop?

3. Footstep distance walk

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: two or three planes, and a long clear floor, hallway or lawn.

1. Agree on a start line.
2. Throw one plane, then wait until everyone has thrown.
3. Walk to your plane in toe-to-heel steps, counting aloud.
4. Try a harder throw and a softer one, and compare.

Notice: Did the strongest throw always go the furthest, or did a gentle push sometimes win?

4. Runway landing

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: a plane, and a scarf, a rolled towel or a sheet of paper to mark a landing patch on the floor.

1. Lay the landing patch on a clear floor, away from furniture corners and stairs.
2. Sit behind a line and glide the plane slowly toward the patch.
3. Cheer when it lands near the patch, and when it does not.
4. Move the patch and play again.

Notice: Where did your plane end up most often, and what could you do to land it on the patch?

5. Decorate and name your plane

Age hint: 3 and up, with a grown-up for the folding.

Bring: a folded plane, crayons or washable pens, and a flat table.

1. Draw patterns on the wings before folding, or on the flat sides afterwards. Stripes, dots and waves all work.
2. Choose a name, such as Sparrow or Moonbeam, and write it on the body.
3. Hold a quiet parade where each plane is named.
4. Keep your favourites on a shelf.

Notice: Which pattern is easiest to spot when the plane is flying?

6. One small change

Age hint: 6 and up.

Bring: two planes folded the same way, and a clear space.

1. Fold two planes as in game 1 so they look alike.
2. On one plane, bend the back edge of each wing up by the width of a finger. Leave the other plane alone.
3. Throw both from the same line, in the same gentle way, and watch what each one does.
4. Try another small change and watch again.

Notice: What looked different about the two flights, and what do you think caused it?

More to do on Rangooo

Fold more with easy origami for kids, watch the breeze with kite and wind activities, make more from paper with easy paper crafts, run about with outdoor games, stay in with indoor games, build with cardboard box play, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What age are paper aeroplane games for?

Most of these games suit ages three to eight with a grown-up. Younger children enjoy decorating and gliding a plane, while older ones can fold the dart and try the small-change test.

Where is the safest place to throw planes?

Choose a clear indoor hallway, a large room or an open lawn with plenty of space. Keep away from stairs, balcony edges, roads and windows, and have everyone throw from behind one line.

Do we need special paper?

No. Plain printer paper, or a clean sheet from an old notebook, is enough. Very thick card is hard to fold and thin tissue tears.

What if the plane keeps crashing?

That is part of the fun. Unfold, smooth the paper and press each crease firmly, then try a gentler throw.